News & Announcements

Buddhist Wisdom & Compassion reaches Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., January 3, 2017, Amida Buddha’s Wisdom and Compassion were heard by members of the 115th Congress, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who had gathered for a Bipartisan Prayer Service at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

At the prayer service, which also included the Christian traditions and a Hindu reading by the Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, the Honorable Colleen Hanabusa shared a Buddhist aspiration. (Representative Hanabusa’s family, the Hanabusas and Murodas, are dedicated members of the Waianae Hongwanji and were instrumental in the founding of the temple.) Listed as “Buddhist Wisdom,” the aspiration was reproduced on a service program insert along with scriptural sayings from other religious traditions. We include the aspiration below.

Buddhist Aspiration

The revered Three Treasures of Buddhism are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. It seeks the peace, happiness and well-being of all existence. May we all be guided and inspired by the Three Treasures, however, today, we especially emphasize the importance of those who are in leadership roles be reflective, open, thoughtful, wise and compassionate in their endeavors.

Of the Buddha, it is said, “The Buddha harbors no thought of greed, hatred or malice; nor does the Buddha allow any ideas of greed, hatred and malice to arise. Possessed of the power to persevere, the Buddha does not avoid personal challenges and difficulties to accomplish the goals set forth. Having little desire for one’s own self, the Buddha knows contentment. With facial expressions of tenderness and kindness of speech, the Buddha speaks to others in consonance with their inner thoughts. Courageous and diligent, disciplined and untiring, the Buddha pursued the pure Dharma, the Teaching or Truth thereby benefiting the multitudes. Buddha shares the great storehouse of merit with others.”

Of the Dharma, some important guiding principles include “Human beings tend to move in the direction of their thoughts.” “Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.” “If one wishes to follow the Buddha’s teaching one must not be egoistic or self-willed, but should cherish feeling of good-will toward all alike; one should respect those worthy of respect; one should serve those who are worthy of service and treat everyone with uniform kindness.”

Of the Sangha, the Community it says, “Thousands of people may live in a community but it is not a true community until all people know each other and have empathy for one another. A true community has faith and wisdom that illuminate it. It is place where people know and trust one another and where there is harmony.”

May the Light of All-Inclusive Wisdom and All-Embracing Compassion guide and illumine the hearts-and-minds of all people of all nations, so our thoughts, words and actions may bring understanding, peace, harmony and happiness, equally, to both self and others in our local, national and global communities!

Tomorrow, Saturday June 24, 2017, the "Ellison Onizuka: A Remembrance" exhibit will open at JCCH. There will be an opening/dedication ceremony to be held at 9 AM, with our Bishop Eric Matsumoto doing the invocation for the program. The Bishop has said it is an honor to do so, as someone who shares the same birthplace (Kona) as Ellison, and as a fellow Japanese-American and Jodo Shin Buddhist. This event is open to the public.

We will be holding a Kikyoshiki Confirmation Ceremony by His Eminence Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani in September!

Confirmation Ceremony, or “Kikyoshiki”, is a solemn ceremony performed before Amida Buddha and Shinran Shonin to officially confirm your entry into the Path of the Nembutsu. Participants will affirm their reverence toward the Three Treasures of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. “Buddha” is not simply in reference to Sakyamuni, but refers more importantly to Amida Buddha, the Buddha of Immeasurable Wisdom and Boundless Compassion. “Dharma” is the teaching of Amida’s Compassionate working to embrace all beings without any discrimination. “Sangha” refers to the community of people who have entrusted themselves to Amida Buddha and its Nembutsu teaching.

By participating in the Confirmation Ceremony, you will receive a Dharma Buddhist Name (Homyo). These names are in the form of “Shaku” and two Buddhist terms which follow. The word “Shaku” means “disciple of Sakyamuni” and signifies that the person has joined the followers of the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha, a community that transcends race or nationality.

His Eminence Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani, the Head Priest and the Spiritual Leader of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Organization, will be officiating the Confirmation Ceremony at the following three locations. Please note that the Confirmation Ceremony is open to anyone throughout the State. There is no minimum or maximum age limit however the individual must be able to participate in the ceremony at the temple. We sincerely hope that you will take this wonderful opportunity and participate in the Confirmation Ceremony. Please contact your resident minister if you have any questions about this ceremony.Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin (398 Kilauea Ave., Hilo)Tuesday, September 5, 2017, 5:30pm

Jodo Shinshu followers in Hawaii will have three opportunities in September 2017 to affirm their reverence toward the Three Treasures of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and receive a Buddhist name from Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani. The Gomonshu is the Head Priest and Spiritual Leader of the Jodo Shinshu Hon